1895 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



745 



thR former is not all dissolved when fed early 

 enough for the bees to ripen it, naay answer 

 just as well. If this is true, it is not necessary 

 to go to the expense and bother of using arti- 

 ficial heat and more or less elaborate meltiug- 

 tanks. 



Last year we proved, to my satisfaction at 

 least, that syriip made by the percolating 

 process was just as good as that made by the 

 use of artiticial heat, and far uiore convenient 

 to make and feed. 



As a caution, I want to say again that, for 

 late feeding, or when the nights are cold enough 

 to make the clusters contract up, it probably 

 will not be safe to feed this half-and-half cold 

 mixture; old-fashioned iliick syrup — two-thirds 

 sugar and one-third water, thoroughly mixed 

 in a meliingtank over bre, should be given. 



It occurs to me that, having mentioned the 

 percolator feeders, I ought to describe briefly 

 tht; one we used last fall, for the benefit of new 

 subscribers. Into a one or two gallon crock 

 put by measure an equal quantity of sugar and 

 water; be sure the crock is level full. Over 

 said crock lay three or four thicknesses of 

 cheese-cloth, and on top of this a large dinner 

 or pie plate. Invert the whole, set it in the 

 upper story of a hive, and it is ready for busi- 

 ness. Sap-pails, without bails, and cleated 

 boards in lieu of plates, may be used, and, on a 

 smaller scale, a saucer and common tumbler. 



iate?'.— Since writing the foregoing I have 

 had a talk with our apiarist. He doesn't feel 

 so hopeful that the mixing of sugar and cold 

 water, without running it through a percolator, 

 will do. At all events, the sugar-and-water 

 mixture doesn't seem to be accepted very 

 readily from the Miller feeder. The trouble is, 

 the sugar settles to the bottom, and the thin 

 watery portion rises to the top, where the bees 

 are, and is so thin, indeed, that they do not 

 take to it. In the case of the croc/iS and plate, 

 above mentioned, the bees work at the bottom 

 near the sugar, or where the syrup is the 

 thickest. 



OUR LATEST PERCOLATOR FEEDER. 



We are now using, with great satisfaction, 

 cleated boards with a three-inch auger-hole in 

 the center, in place of the plates. The crocks 

 are filled half and half, as previously explain- 

 ed; the flannel or cheese-cloth is then laid over, 

 after which the cleated board with the orifice 

 in the center. The whole is reversed, and the 

 percolated syrup is taken by the bees at the 

 opening in the center of the board now under 

 the crock. We prefer this arrangement because 

 the bees take the feed faster. 



If you wish to know how to make a large 

 percolator— one that will give you a half-barrel 

 of syrup in a few hours— see Gleanings for 

 October 15, last year, page 804. If you do not 

 have the copy, we can send you one for 5 cents. 

 Of course, these large percolators are used only 



for making syrup indoors, the syrup being fed 

 in the regular way in ordinary feeders. 



DEATH OF DR. C. V. RILEY. 



That distinguished scientist. Prof. C. V. 

 Riley, who, till recently, held the position of 

 United Stat(S Entomologist, which he resigned 

 but a short time ago, died on the 14th of last 

 month as the result of a fractured skull from a 

 bicycle fall. In liis special department of 

 science (entomology) he seemed to be without 

 a peer. In his olficial capacity he rendered 

 important aid to the farmer, and especially to 

 the fruit-grower, by discovering ways and 

 means for the destruction of insect-pests. From 

 the last Scientific Americati I take the follow- 

 ing: 



In the past few years, two of his studies have pro- 

 duced epo^.'h-makiag' I'esulcs. One is his famous 

 emulsion of kerosene oil, milk or soap solution be- 

 ing- tlie emulsifying agent. Having found that this 

 was an infallible insecticide, lie had to devise means 

 for applying it, and invented the "cyclone," "eddy 

 chamber," or " Riley system " of nozzle for spray- 

 ing it upon trees. Another of his achievements was 

 the introduction of the Australian ladybird, Vedalia 

 Cardinalis, into California, to destroy the white 

 scale, which was then ruining the orange groves. 

 The result was simply magical. Since then the in- 

 sect has been introduced elsewliere. It is intex'est- 

 ing to note that other attempts of the same sort that 

 have been made in California, against other insects, 

 either against liis advice or without his endorse- 

 ment, liave not had the same success. His discov- 

 eries in rehition to the phylloxera alone were 

 enough to give him international renown, and his 

 recommendations have been followed by grape- 

 growers in all parts ot the world. He was a most 

 voluminous writer; a Ijibliography of his writings, 

 published by the Department of Agriculture, five 

 years ago, sliowiug over 1J5,000 titles. 



Prof. Riley honored by his presence the 

 North American convention which was held 

 during the winter of 1892, "03, at Washington, 

 D. C. At that time he read a paper which was 

 listened to with marked attention and interest. 

 In this he pointed out what the government 

 had done and proposed to do for the bee-keep- 

 ing interests of our country. Both he and 

 Prof. Wiley, then Chief Chemist of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, created a pleasant and 

 lasting impression on the bee-keepers who 

 were fortunate enough to be in attendance 

 upon that convention. 



GODS LATEST (ilFT TO A. I. ROOT AND WIFE. 



On the anniversary of their 34th wedding- 

 day, at half-past nine on Sunday evening, Sept. 

 29, 1895, was born to their eldest daughter, Mrs. 

 Maude Root Calvert, a little girl, giving them a 

 granddaughter in addition to the grandsons, 

 Howard and Leland. May God give grace and 

 wisdom to both parents and grandparents to 

 bring up the precious charge in wisdom's ways! 



